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Car registration tags expire every year. And in most cases, we don’t usually realize that they’ve expired until it’s too late. Fortunately, this is a correctable violation, so it can be solved rather easily. All you need to do is show proof of correction and pay a dismissal fee for the court to dismiss the charges.
But, if you get a ticket multiple times, the fines will escalate each time. Then, your license might get suspended in the long run. This begs the question, what’s the best way to deal with this kind of situation, and what fines could you end up paying? Read on to find out.
California’s Registration Laws
Driving without registration tags is a violation of the California Vehicle Code § 5204(a). If you are cited, you will incur a $25 base fine and a penalty assessment, which might include a state tax multiplier of 4-9 times the base amount.
It doesn’t matter whether you were cited for driving with expired tags after paying the fee and waiting for the tags, or you forgot to put them in your car altogether. You can be cited by the police each time they pull you over.
Every time you’re caught driving with expired tags in California, the penalties you get are compounded. This leads to hundreds or even thousands of dollars in fines. And if you continue committing the same offense for over six months, your vehicle will get impounded under the California Vehicle Code § 22651(0) (1).
Next, let’s look into how much time you have to register your vehicle after getting a registration ticket.
How Long After a Registration Ticket Do You Have to Register Your Vehicle?
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) does not offer a grace period for paying your annual vehicle registration fees. Therefore, you should pay your renewal fees on or before the expiration date. If you’re late, the DMV will charge penalties.
Suppose you end up getting a registration ticket before you get a chance to renew your registration. Then, you’ll have 30 days to register your vehicle. Failure to register your vehicle in this period will lead to more fines and the possibility of your vehicle being towed.
Now, let’s see the penalties for state-registered vehicles and for those not registered in California.
Penalties for Vehicles Registered in California
The state determines the penalties you get by adding a percentage of the vehicle’s license fee, a California Highway Patrol (CHP) late fee, and a late registration fee.
| Late Payment | Percentage of the license and weight fees | Late registration fee | CHP late fee |
| 1 – 10 days | 10% of the license fee for your vehicle for that year10% of the weight fee for that year (if any) | $10 | $10 |
| 11 – 30 days | 20% of the license fee for your vehicle for that year20% of the weight fee due for that year (if any) | $15 | $15 |
| 31 days to one year | 60% of the license fee for your vehicle for that year60% of the weight fee for that year (if any) | $30 | $30 |
| More than one year to two years | 80% of the license fee for your vehicle for that year80% of the weight fee due for that year (if any) | $50 | $50 |
| More than two years | 160% of the license fee for your vehicle for that year160% of the weight fee due for that year (if any) | $100 | $100 |
Penalties for new vehicles or vehicles that were never registered in California
| If payment is late | Penalty |
| One year or less | 40% of the license fee for your vehicle for that year 40% of the weight fee due for that year (if any) |
| More than one year to two years | 80% of the license fee for your vehicle for that year80% of the weight fee due for that year (if any) |
| More than two years | 160% of the license fee for your vehicle for that year160% of the weight fee due for that year (if any) |
What Do I Need to Do on the Date of My Citation to Appear in Court?
Immediately after you are cited for driving without registration tags in California, you should register your vehicle and get new valid tags before your court date. When you get there, you can show that you have registered your vehicle and now have valid tags.
Can I Drive on Private Property Without Registration?
You can drive all you want on private property without registering your tags. But, if you want to drive on California’s streets and freeways, then you’ll need to register your tags. Failure to do so might leave you vulnerable to fines and penalties.
Can I Beat a Traffic Ticket for Expired Tags?
Yes. Getting a traffic ticket is not a serious crime. If you know the laws of the road and are smart when it comes to fees and fines, you could just outrun one. Depending on the officer who pulled you over or examined your vehicle when parked, you may get a citation or a simple warning. Regardless of the case, you have to renew your registration as soon as possible.
Suppose your car registration is updated, but you’re somehow missing your registration papers or tags, showing proof of correction is your best option. In this case, you should take your traffic ticket with you to your local courthouse and ask for a proof of corrections form. Once you’ve filled out the form and provided your proof and your signed traffic ticket, your papers will be authorized at the courthouse.
If your paperwork checks out, all you need to do is pay a small dismissal fee for your ticket to be dismissed before it ends up on your record. That being said, to increase your chances of beating a traffic ticket in California, you will need a lawyer. The next time you get a ticket, hire an attorney through appwinit.com to help you fight your ticket.
The Bottom Line
If you want to keep your driving privileges and your California driving record clean, you have to resolve your tickets as soon as you get them. By simply paying the court fee or providing proof that your vehicle’s registration is up-to-date, you can avoid the huge fines and eliminate the possibility of your vehicle being towed.
